An estimated 20.6 million residents stretching from Florida and up the Atlantic East Coast to Delaware are likely to experience Tropical Storm Alberto’s rains over the next two days, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

     According to the National Hurricane Center, at 8 a.m. (EDT), Tropical Storm Alberto packed maximum sustained winds of near 65 mph. If the storm continues on its current path, it could make landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida midday today—a hurricane warning extends along Florida’s Gulf Coast from Longboat Key to the Ochlockonee River. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions can be expected in the next 24 hours.

     Alberto is the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. As the 2006 season progresses, the Census Bureau will post information on its new Hurricane Data and Emergency Preparedness Web page <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/emergencies/index.html>.